The Local Haps: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Festivities!

Guys. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is about a week away, and do you have your tickets yet? I'm sure you do. Well, not only is this going to be one of the most anticipated movies of the year, but The Alamo Drafthouse has multitudes of celebrations going on during the whole opening weekend. So even if you didn't get your tickets for opening night, all the festivities will be happening all weekend. 

Check it out below!

The Local Haps: August 31st - September 6th

School's been back for a week now. The traffic jams have increased, there's less teenagers at the mall during the day, and hopefully there's less of them at the movies during the week which should make all of these special screenings a nice and quiet refuge. Check them out after the break!

The Local Haps: French New Wave at the Alamo Drafthouse DFW

French New Wave Showcase

Video Association of Dallas and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - DFW co-present the French New Wave Showcase Saturday afternoons in September!

French New Wave, or in French “Nouvelle Vague,” is the style of highly individualistic French film directors of the late 1950s—early ‘60s. Films by New Wave directors were often characterized by fresh techniques using the city streets as character in the films.

The New Wave films stimulate discussion about their place in the history of cinema and film. So whether a cinephile or a casual filmgoer, learn more about this distinctly French film movement. French New Wave Showcase, presented by the Video Association of Dallas and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - DFW, screens every Saturday at 4 pm at Alamo Richardson.

“The French New Wave was a reaction to the bigness of Hollywood. Serious film scholars, writers and lovers started the movement to counteract the regimented Studio System. Their poetic way of taking filmmaking to the streets was immediately inspiring to a new generation of American filmmakers, showing them that creating original meaningful cinema was in reach. Their movement inspired many other cinematic moments that continue to propel cinema today,” said Bart Weiss, founder of Video Association of Dallas and founder of Dallas VideoFest, which starts its 28^th year Oct. 13. 

The Local Haps: August 24th - August 30th

Monday, August 24th
Alamo Drafthouse: There's not nearly enough cool Latino characters around Hollywood so of course DESPERADO is one of the most badass movies from the 90's. Vinegar Syndrome's monthly series continues with SWEET TRASH.


Tuesday, August 25th
Alamo Drafthouse: You can see just how evil the penis is at the "late night" screening of ZARDOZ at 7:00 pm. THEY LIVE  ranks among John Carpenter's best. With Roddy Rod Piper's untimely passing it's definitely a must-see if you've been living under a rock for the 3 decades.

Wednesday, August 26th
Alamo Drafthouse: As many of the late 90's/early 00's teen movies I saw, BRING IT ON was not one of them. But I know a lot of friends that loooooOOOOooove it. So you check out the quote-along at 8:05 pm.  Horror Remix returns after a hiatus with an old classic, BOAT SHOW at 10:00 pm.

Texas Theatre: There's a double bill of DO I SOUND GAY? and BEING EVEL  starting at 7 and 8:45 pm respectively. Jonesy's seen both and they both are pretty interesting documentaries. I'm more particularly interested in DO I SOUND GAY? as it involves a lot of interesting sociological issues.

Thursday, August 27th
Texas Theatre: In anticipation of the upcoming appearance, there will be a 35mm MALLRATS screening at 8:45 pm. I'll be honest, I'm curious how it holds up. Most of Smith's movies have all of the rage of a teenager but no nuances. But if you're a fan of his work, you'll be all about it.

Saturday, August 29th
Alamo Drafthouse: BETTER OFF DEAD is a hole in John Cusack filmography but it's celebrating its 30th anniversary and the trailer looked pretty crazy.


Sunday, August 30th
Alamo Drafthouse: Wrapping up the Alfred Hitchcock month, the post-WW II spy thriller, NOTORIOUS at 1:00 pm

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The Local Haps: July 27th - August 2nd

Another light week in terms of events, but it shouldn't stop you from watching some of the first-run movies out already or coming up like TRAINWRECK and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ROGUE NATION. 

Monday, July 27th
Alamo Drafthouse: Bondthology is wrapping up with SKYFALL tonight at 6:00 pm. Featuring some of the coolest fight scenes and cinematography by Roger Deakins, James Bond has to fight an old agent abandoned by M.


Tuesday, July 28th
Alamo Drafthouse: Another month, another free Asian Madness screening, this time it's KUNG FU KILLER from Well Go at 9:00 pm. Featuring a killer who targets masters of martial arts for death, a man incarcerated offers his services to the police in exchange for his freedom.


Wednesday, July 29th
Alamo Drafthouse: The only thing thing more heavy than BACK TO THE FUTURE is a BACK TO THE FUTURE screening with a a special three course meal which is what you'll get if you go check out this screening at 7:00 pm. OVER THE TOP, the Sylvester Stallone movie about arm wrestling, definitely lives up to its name. As part of the Shiner Soundtrack series, you should pay special attention to the score by Giorgio Moroder.


Thursday, July 30th
Alamo Drafthouse: This unfortunately timed marathon sounds awesome and your mission should you choose to accept it is to watch all of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movies in a single seating in anticipation of the release of ROUGE NATION later that day.

Granada Theater: Another interesting music movie double feature tonight with MUSCLE SCHOALS and 20 FEET FROM STARDOM.  Both are $3 each with drink specials all night long.


Sunday, August 2nd
Granada Theater: Grab a litter of cola or the nearest boot-shaped glass and sit down for a Broken Lizard double feature with their two most famous movies SUPER TROOPERS and BEERFEST. The first movie starts at 2:00 pm and the second starts at 5:00 pm.


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The Local Haps: July 20th - July 27th

I spent most of my last weekend outside biking around White Rock Lake, doing yoga, running and even trying out the new Lakewood Brewing Company beer garden. Needless to say, I am staying away from the great outdoors for a while until it cools down. If anything, I'll probably try to attend more of these cool and air-conditioned screenings in the coming week. Check them out after the jump.

The Local Haps: July 6th - July 12th

Here's some special movie events! Check them out.

Monday, July 6th
Alamo Drafthouse: Get ready to be surprised at another monthly AGFA Secret Screening tonight at 8:00 pm. If 35mm rarities aren't up your alley, how about watching a 15-anniversary screening of one of the first superhero movies of the new era, X-MEN?


Tuesday, July 7th
Alamo Drafthouse: The Bondthology is quickly wrapping up. In this month's installment, we have the first of the great Daniel Craig movies, CASINO ROYALE at 7:00 pm. It's fun watching Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) playing poker the strange villain Le Chiffre. Then later for all of my groovier friends out there, you can stick around to 10 pm for a free screening of the cult stoner classic, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. Then, if you don't have work the next morning, you should go home and pair it with THIS IS THE END.


Wednesday, July 8th
Alamo Drafthouse: This month's Vinegar Syndrome is the slasher THE JEKYLL AND HYDE PORTFOLIO filled with inexplicable amounts of sex and neon-colored blood.


Thursday, July 9th
Alamo Drafthouse: As I joked on Twitter, Shark Week has become the kind of thing that gets basics on the Internet super excited like bacon, pumpkin spice lattes, and the Big Bang Theory. I bet your work will be doing some cheesy Shark Week-related thing at some point because it's that popular. Anyway, the point is the Drafthouse is playing SHARKNADO in the awesome Sharknad-o-vision which means actual* sharks will be flying around the theater when the aforementioned sharknado comes on screen.


Friday, July 10th
Texas Theatre: Starting tonight and over the weekend, you can watch the Dallas hometown hero, Dirk Nowitzki's documentary NOWITZKI: THE PERFECT SHOT. You can read Jonesy's review here. Then at 9:00 pm, there's a special screening of FORBIDDEN ZONE with composer Richard Elfman in attendance followed by a strangely billed after party featuring Pinkish Black and Unconscious Collective.


Saturday, July 11th
Alamo Drafthouse: If you're into ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW then you already know there's a screening at 10:20 pm and that it will be as rowdy and out there as is to be expected.

Texas Theatre: For one night only, you can catch the relationship drama 10,000 KM about a couple separated by, you guessed it, 10,000 km's as the woman moves out to LA for a year to kick-start her photography career.


Sunday, July 12th.
Alamo Drafthouse: Preston Sturges' SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS at 12:45 pm. One of Jonesy's favorites, DEEP BLUE SEA  plays today in honor of Shark Week.

Granada Theater: This might be the place to be on Sunday. There will be a JAWS/SHARKNADO double feature starting at 2:00 pm.

Texas Theatre: Rounding out the weekend is the classic forbidden romance movie, HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR about a French actress that has an affair with a married Japanese architect.


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The Local Haps: July 4th Weekend Edition

With the Fourth of July coming up, there's a surprisingly sparse calendar for specialty screenings. If you're not traveling for the long weekend then you can check out these screenings after the break!

The Local Haps: June 22nd - June 28th

Now that the solstice has come and gone, we're officially in the summer season and without the torrential downpours we've been experiencing, the temperatures have already started climbing to the 90's. So why not beat the heat and check out these awesome screenings? Check them out after the break.

The Local Haps: Drafthouse Richardson Plans Special JURASSIC WORLD Events

JURASSIC WORLD is almost upon us. For most people my age, this is a big deal regardless of the quality of the movie since the original JURASSIC PARK was such a monumental moviegoing experience for an entire generation of nerds. As always, the Drafthouse in Richardson has something special planned to commemorate the release of the movie and they spared no expense. Check out the details after the break!

The Local Haps: May 19th - May 24th

Now that the constant torrential downpour has all but subsided in the Metroplex, the heat has come back in full force. Why not escape the heat with some awesome movie screenings? Check them out after the break! 

The Local Haps: May 4th - May 10th

This week is relatively light on movie-related events, but there's still a lot of good stuff including my pick of the week. But if this isn't up your alley, you might want to stay outdoors while the weather is not terrible.

The Local Haps: March 30th - April 5th

After a week off recovering from South By Southwest, I'm back with a plethora of screenings all throughout DFW to keep you busy. I'll be real, the weather is way too nice to be inside watching movies. Still, if you've already seen the excellent WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS and IT FOLLOWS, then check out these special screenings below

The Local Haps: March 16th- March 22nd

Spring Break happened for some last week but is happening for others this week. Whether you're off this week or sad to be back in school this week, there are plenty of great movie events to get you through the dull of March. 

The Local Haps: March 2nd - March 8th

I know 75% of you have got some bad cabin fever. So get out of the house and go see some movies!!!!


Monday, March 2nd
Alamo Drafthouse:  Tonight's main event is the thankfully early monthly AGFA Secret Screening at 7:00 pm. As always, you don't know what you're going to get but it will be fun as hell.

Texas Theatre: The documentary SONS OF LIBERTY screens at 6:00 pm. It deals with the way that corporations control all of the information in this country. Very scary stuff.



Tuesday, March 3rd
Alamo Drafthouse: Tough Guy Cinema presents one of the best movies of the 90's, director John Woo's perfect distillation of crazy Nicolas Cage and John Travolta performances, FACE/OFF. It all goes down at 7:00 pm.


Texas Theatre: Tuesday Night Trash returns with the grimy cyberpunk movie, DECODER at 9:15 pm. It's a semi-adaption of a William S. Burroughs story, The Electronic Revolution. As always, TNT is free. You can check out the trailer here.

Before that at 7:00 pm, they'll be hosting the SHOW US YOUR SHORTS! showcase of local filmmakers' shorts all competing for a prize! Admission is $5.



Wednesday, March 4th
Alamo Drafthouse: One of my favorite movies of all time, GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH is screening at 9:00 pm. If nasty little green creatures aren't up your alley, how about you dance and sing along to some of New Wave's greatest hits at the next Sing-Along at 8:00 pm?


Thursday, March 5th
Alamo Drafthouse: As if you would want to miss this CLUELESS quote-along at 7:40 pm?

Granada Theater: In an interesting turn of events, it seems my favorite music venue in all of DFW, the Granada Theater is starting to show cheap movies with drink specials. This week's offering are HEAVY METAL at 7:00 pm and then SUPERBAD at 9:00 pm. Both are a mere $3 per ticket.

Texas Theatre:  It's actually the whole night at the Theatre. Starting off at 7:00 pm, there's a screening of the music doc RECORDS COLLECTING DUST and then at 9:30 pm, there's the monster movie by director Adam Green, DIGGING UP THE MARROW.



Friday, March 6th
Texas Theatre: PICK OF THE WEEK! The traveling EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE! video tour comes to Dallas tonight at 8:00 pm. For those not in the know, EIT is a bizarre found footage collective who compile all of this weird stuff they find on VHS tapes, DVDs and all sort of assorted media. It's awkward and funny and a little disgusting but it's never boring!



Saturday, March 7th
Alamo Drafthouse: PARTY TIME! EXCELLENT! is what you will be saying if you go to the WAYNE'S WORLD quote-along at 7:15 pm. Or if you prefer your evening to be a little classier and a lot more British, you can check out the next installment of the Bondthology series with 1987's THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (aka the first movie with Timothy Dalton) at 7:00 pm.

Texas Theatre: There's a one-time screening of director Joe Lynch's EVERLY at 7:00 pm with a director Q&A over Skype right after the movie. I got to catch this movie at last year's Fantastic Fest and I have to say that despite some of the questionable sexual politics it's implying, I had quite a good time with it. Salma Hayek is such a bad ass action star in this and she carries most of the movie like a boss.



Sunday, March 8th
Alamo Drafthouse: If you've never seen Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller VERTIGO, you can cross it off your shame list at 1:00 pm. Then, continuing the Avenge the Alamo series, is THE INCREDIBLE HULK, the really underrated movie starring Edward Norton. And finally, the masters of cinematic comedy, Master Pancake will be lampooning the very lampoon-able FIFTY SHADES OF GREY at 5:00 pm and 8:15 pm.



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The Local Haps: February 9th - February 15th

I'll be honest, I thought there would be way more romance related movies this week, but there's a few really good special screenings this week that are worth checking out whether you're single or with your favorite lady/dude. Check them out after the break!

The Local Haps: February 3rd- February 9th

It's the season of love and assorted chocolates, and that makes you sick, then there are always a great selection of movies playing around DFW to keep your mind off of it. Yes, there are romance movies here, but there are plenty of other films including Oscar contenders, secret screening, and my pick of the week, a musical (of the non-romance variety)!

The Local Haps: January 12th - January 18th

It's a new year and the only resolutions worth keeping is to watch more movies in the new year. Thankfully, we have a lot of special screenings this week in addition to the new releases. Check them out after the break including my Pick of the Week.

The Local Haps: NYE Week Edition

With New Year's Eve, we have the end of the hectic holiday season and the promise of a new year full of movies! As such, it seems once again there's a bit of a drought of film-related events but I was able to scrounge up enough new and special repertory screenings for you to enjoy these last few days of 2014 unto 2015. See you next year!

Tuesday, December 30th
Alamo Drafthouse: While it's no GHOSTBUSTERS, GHOSTBUSTERS II is still fun if only because the chemistry between the four 'busters is undeniable. You can check it out at 8:00 pm. In addition, as part of the Shiner Soundtrack series, there is a 9:20 pm screening of director Paul Thomas Anderson's MAGNOLIA.

Angelika Dallas: Not much in the way of special screenings, but there's some of the most talked about movies of year currently playing at the Angelika. Follow this link for showtimes and tickets.

Texas Theatre: A screening of A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT begins at 9:15 pm. In addition, there's a screening of THE INTERVIEW at 7 pm.


Wednesday, December 31st
Alamo Drafthouse: Not really a movie event, but the Action Pack will have their Rockin' New Year Music Dance Party at 10 pm.

Texas Theatre: Once again, this isn't movie related, but the Texas Theatre always throws a badass NYE party. This year it's no exception. The party, New Year's Noir, will have live music from Nervous Curtains, a burlesque show, champagne and a human ball drop! It all starts at 9pm and you can go get your tickets here.


Friday, January 2nd
Texas Theatre: THE INTERVIEW and A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT, will once again screen but this week's new movie is the Fantastic Fest dark comedy favorite, FORCE MAJEURE. The movie deals with the fall out of a father's cowardly actions in the face of potential danger and the strain it causes on his marriage and his relationship with his kids. This will be its only screening so I encourage you guys to check it out.


Saturday, January 3rd
Texas Theatre:  Apart from the aforementioned movies, there is a screening of the documentary NATIONAL GALLERY at 2 pm. The doc deals with the National Gallery in London. I'll be real, I haven't heard much about this doc but it sounds really interesting.


Sunday, January 4th
Alamo Drafthouse: Big Screen Classics, a new series that highlights films that everyone SHOULD have seen already but maybe haven't, will be screening CHINATOWN at 12:30 pm.

Texas Theatre: This is a busy day at the theater. Apart from screenings of THE INTERVIEW, A GIRL..., and NATIONAL GALLERY, there will be one-time screening of the family drama, SABBATICAL at 7:30 pm. Check out the link for a synopsis.


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The Local Haps - Christmas Week Edition!

Christmas is almost here and of course there's a lot of Christmas-related movies are still being screened. This week is once again pretty light and there are some events that I didn't list due to the fact that they're sold out. But check out the rest of the events after the break!